Chapter 4
Lion-O and Hafiz made their way out to the temporary housing some few hundred feet away on the other side of the moat, through knee deep snow. They said nothing to each other as the wind howled and the snow whipped around. It was below freezing and the wind chill made it feel even colder.
They were let in the front door of the facility by a Monkian named Duygu. He had been one of the lucky ones from the shuttle sent down to the planet by Rattigan. When given the opportunity, Duygu along with his colleagues Cemal, Faruk, Musa, and İkbal, had agreed to stay on Third Earth. Everyone back on Plundarr thought they were dead and it was safer on the planet than trying to make a go of it out in space.
"Hi Duygu, everything holding up here?" Lion-O asked.
"So far so good sir. We've got the roofs being checked every ten minutes. The Evil Chasers really have perfected the technology for these homes," the Monkian explained. He had been monitoring the cameras around the facility and saw that the pair were heading over. Having a colleague take over for him, he had made sure to let them in and then secure the door.
"How about the heat?" The lion wondered.
"Well we've switched to the backup heat fully. Everyone has been huddled into the cafeteria, beds have been moved around. Right now we're just keeping the outlying areas at a minimal temperature to avoid the pipes freezing," Duygu was honest as they walked toward the cafeteria.
"Should we move people into the Lair?" Lion-O was concerned to hear that.
"No need for that now. If the storm doesn't let up by morning, we'll have to revisit that issue," the Monkian told him.
"I certainly don't want anyone freezing to death. If things get worse, you make sure that the Lair is radioed and we will move everyone," the lion said. Duygu nodded as they entered the large cafeteria. Many were asleep, but some kept an eye on the roof and others moved in and out of the room as they came back from their rounds and others took their place.
"This way," Duygu kept his tone low and they moved through the beds until they reached the chow line, where ordinarily people would line up to receive their meal. There the Monkian opened the metal tray rail and led the two back into the kitchen and down to the office where İkbal was sitting, watching the computer calculations change as he adjusted for the exterior temperature. He was attempting to find out how long the fuel left by the Evil Chasers would last and just when they'd need to switch to their remaining Thundrillium stock. Once Duygu led them there, he headed back to his post and closed the door behind him.
"Coming to check up on me?" İkbal smirked as he shook the King's hand, offering the lion and vulture seats on the opposite side of the desk. The two had developed a friendship since the interrogation of the jackal back when their shuttle had been blown up by the Evil Chasers.
"You know it. Now the Evil Chasers are coming in a few more days with equipment for speeding up our mining process. We have a bigger problem at the moment though. Things keep going sideways out at the mine. First the tracks were messed with and now the radio doesn't seem to be working right," Lion-O explained.
"Sabotage must be at the top of the list then," İkbal frowned.
"Regrettably so but by whom is the question," the lion said. İkbal nodded.
"Have you heard any rumblings amongst your fellow Mutants? I know that some have complained about their group leaders but I think we all expected that. My concern is that maybe something slipped through the cracks when the Evil Chasers did their checks. Worse still, it could be no one here and someone from outside the Mutants and ThunderCats, trying to sow doubt and anger," Lion-O was blunt.
"There will always be someone who is unhappy but I don't think anyone stupid enough to mess with the mine or the radio. If it were summer, I'd say we'd have an argument for a possible Mutant. Only an idiot would want to freeze to death in the winter," İkbal was concerned about what this could mean.
"I think we've all seen that some people aren't that bright though huh?" Hafiz spoke up.
"True. Some cannot help themselves. I will keep my ears to the ground and see if I hear anything," the jackal promised.
"I shall keep you in the loop as to the mine's progress and Evil Chaser equipment. They have also promised more fuel oil," the lion said.
"That is good because I do not like my calculations. I also don't like acting like a spy," İkbal frowned.
"I'm not asking for you to. All I want to know is if someone is unhappy, more so than you think they should be. I have little doubt that this is an external matter but until it is resolved…" Lion-O trailed off.
"All options must be kept open. I completely understand, especially the need to keep it quiet," the jackal nodded. Seeds of distrust could not be sown at all costs. While the ThunderCats wanted this relationship to work, as did most, if not all, of the Mutants, there would be some who would find it difficult to live in harmony after decades of mistrust between the peoples.
"I will be assisting in this matter as well. So you and I can confer if need be," Hafiz let him know.
"Well at least I won't be alone in my endeavor," İkbal chuckled.
"The bigger question is how will we narrow down our suspect pool," the vulture wanted to know.
"That was another reason for the visit. I do not want it to look like we're onto the possibility of sabotage but I'd like some extra people on shift at the mine. The more eyes on things, the better the chance of discovering who we are dealing with or at least keeping them at bay," Lion-O said.
"I'm sure I could drum up a few people wanting to do more work, especially once the mining equipment arrives," İkbal told them.
"Excellent. Please keep us posted and we will leave you to it," the lion stood and once again shook the jackal's hand.
"I will stay behind, unless you need me at the Lair," Hafiz said.
"Stay here and stay warm. I'll go relieve Mandora of the controls," Lion-O smiled and then he exited the office and headed for the building's exit.
"Do you think he's right? That someone from Third Earth is doing this?" Hafiz asked his friend.
"With only two shifts at the mine, it is entirely possible. However, if it turns out to be one of us, it will look bad for all of us," İkbal frowned.
"What do you suggest?" The vulture wondered what the jackal was thinking.
"If we discover it is one of us, we take them out ourselves," İkbal said. While it was drastic, Hafiz wasn't sure he disagreed. They were safe here, living a good life, nothing could stand in the way of that.
To Be Continued…